Your News - Spring edition 2017

INSIDE 

DON’T BE A VICTIM OF DOORSTEP CRIME • EMPTY HOMES BROUGHT BACK INTO USE 

A MAGAZINE FOR NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL TENANTS 

Newsham 

MATTERS 

YOUR VOTE 

- use it or lose it 

SPRING 2017

4 

DON’T BE A VICTIM 

OF DOORSTEP CRIME 

FOREWORD 

Welcome to the Spring 

edition of Your News, 

which focuses on 

investments made 

by the council to help 

improve the communities 

in which you live. 

8 

EMPTY HOMES BROUGHT 

BACK INTO USE 

The word community means a group 

of people who live in the same area 

and who have a shared interest or a 

common goal. 

As a council we are committed 

to working with our tenants and 

partners to create welcoming 

communities you can be proud 

of and live in. 

One of the ways we try to achieve 

this ambition is by investing to 

improve our estates with 

improvement projects, such as 

those at The Oval in Newsham. 

We couldn’t do this without your 

co-operation. Projects like Newsham 

Community Matters aim to bring a 

community together, to develop a 

scheme, which can improve the lives 

of everyone in the area. Hopefully, 

this pilot will help us to develop our 

approach and we may then replicate 

this in other areas. 

A community is also about taking 

care of each other, whether that’s 

looking in on an elderly or vulnerable 

neighbour, or reporting suspicious 

activities in your estate, such as 

door-to-door callers or anti-social 

behaviour. 

We all have a part to play in making 

Northumberland a happy place to 

live and we welcome your support 

and involvement. 

Allan Hepple, cabinet member 

for housing at the council 

14 

SOLID FUEL 

16 

GET YOUR KIDS DAY OFF 

TO A HEALTHY START 

FRONT COVER IMAGE: 

Spring fun at 

Whitehouse Farm Centre. 

YOUR HOUSING 

MANAGEMENT 

TEAM IS ON 

THE MOVE 

The team, currently based at Blyth Civic Centre, 

is moving to a new home at Compass House 

in the centre of Blyth, following the sale of the 

civic centre. 

Compass House, as with the Civic 

Centre will not be open to the public 

but we intend to improve access to 

our services by offering meetings by 

appointment. 

No set date has been agreed for the 

move but we anticipate that it will 

take place in May. 

If you need to access the team 

or have a housing management 

enquiry, you should continue to 

call our Contact Centre on 

01670 542424 or call into one 

of our Information Centres. 

 

on page 19. 

2 

YOUR NEWS Spring 2017

NEW BUNGALOW 

brings back memories for tenant 

“The bungalow is 

going to make things so 

much easier for us, we are 

really impressed with it. As 

time passes and we get older, 

we will now have a house 

which will hopefully suit 

our needs.” 

New tenants have now moved into a 

development of bungalows in Blyth. 

Rita Railton 

And for Rita Railton opening the 

doors to her newly built bungalow, 

on the site of the former Morpeth 

Road school, was like stepping 

back in time. 

The 70-year-old is a former pupil 

of the school and grew up on the 

nearby Cowpen Road. The old 

school railings now also border 

her back garden 

She said: “It’s like I’ve come full 

circle. The bungalow is going to 

make things so much easier for 

us, we are really impressed with 

it. As time passes and we get older, 

we will now have a house which will 

hopefully suit our needs.” 

The £2.8m development is part of 

the council’s Affordable Homes 

programme and is made up of 

26 two-bedroom bungalows, 

two of which have been built to 

accommodate wheelchair access. 

The bungalows are part of a focus 

on affordable housing by the 

council, which has seen more than 

300 new homes being built across 

the county in the last three years. 

Northumberland County Councillor 

Allan Hepple, cabinet member for 

housing said: “The lack of affordable 

housing is one of the biggest issues 

facing people in Northumberland 

and the council has placed a strong 

emphasis on building new 

affordable homes. 

“It’s fantastic to see the tenants 

moving into their new homes, which 

are helping local people, such as the 

Railtons, stay in the communities 

they know and love.” 

YOUR NEWS Spring 2017 

3

SAFER NEIGHBOURHOODS 

DON’T BE A VICTIM 

OF DOORSTEP CRIME 

Northumberland Trading Standards 

Service is warning residents to be 

aware of bogus door to door callers. 

These callers may offer services 

such as garden maintenance and 

home repairs, or try to sell you 

products. Fish sellers are a common 

complaint for Trading Standards. 

Rogue door to door sellers target 

vulnerable or elderly tenants, who 

may feel intimidated or pressured 

into buying from them or agreeing 

to have work carried out in their 

home or garden. 

They often have a good “story” to tell 

and can be very persuasive. Once 

 

to get them to leave. Tenants should 

also be aware that in some cases 

some people have been subject to 

distraction burglary after allowing 

these sellers into their home. 

Typically the work carried out is of 

a low standard, people are charged 

an excessive amount for work done 

or they fail to complete the work 

altogether even when they have 

been paid to do it. Complaints about 

 

show you a small amount of quality 

product, but leave you with a large 

amount of lower quality product, 

for which you may be charged a lot 

of money. 

Remember 

if you are unsure 

call the Citizens 

Advice Consumer 

Helpline on 

03454 04 

05 06 

You may also end up on a “suckers 

list” where your details could be 

passed around to other rogue 

traders. As a result you may then 

receive an increased number of 

calls and visits to your home. 

If you 

have elderly 

neighbours or 

relatives be aware 

that they may be 

vulnerable to rogue 

traders so pass on 

these tips and 

advice. 

4 


SAFER NEIGHBOURHOODS 

NORTHUMBERLAND TRADING STANDARDS 

SERVICE ARE HERE TO HELP WITH SOME 

TIPS AND ADVICE: 

If you are unsure about the service being offered, you should always 

take the time to think. Ask for a business card and say that you will 

contact the trader rather than agreeing to work immediately. 

For home maintenance or gardening services it may be better to ask 

a friend or neighbour for a recommendation for a tradesperson they 

have used. 

Look for businesses on the Business Approval Register 

www.businessapprovalregister.com. This is a directory of 

businesses providing home improvements and professional 

services, providing a safer way to choose a tradesperson. 

 

 

 

about a door to door caller report it immediately. Contact the police 

via the 101 emergency number or call the Citizens Advice 

Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06 for further advice. 

Avoid allowing someone you do not know into your home and use 

a door chain if possible. 

Never agree to take someone to your bank to withdraw money to 

pay for goods or services. 

Staff in most high street banks are now trained to 

look out for any suspicious withdrawals 

Fish sellers need a licence to sell door to door, so ask for evidence 

of this. 

Place a no cold callers sign in your window 

(please cut out the sign provided) 

PHONE AND EMAIL SCAMS 

Be wary of letters,phonecalls 

or emails asking for personal 

information, such as bank 

account numbers, login details 

or passwords. Sometimes emails 

may look convincing but banks 

and Government departments 

such as HMRC would not ask for 

your personal details in this way. 

Never respond to letters or 

emails asking for you to send 

money to an account. Even if an 

email is from someone in your 

contacts, their account could 

have been hacked, so always 

 

Be wary of letters, e-mails or 

phonecalls which tell you you 

have won a prize, especially if 

they are asking you to send 

money or call a premium rate 

number in order to claim this 

prize. Remember if it seems too 

good to be true, it probably is. 

If you are still unsure call the 

Citizens Advice Consumer 

Helpline on 03454 04 05 06. 

CUT OUT YOUR NO COLD CALLERS SIGN HERE 

We DO NOT deal with 

COLD CALLERS 

PLEASE LEAVE AND DO NOT RETURN 

Failure to do so is a criminal offence 

The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 


ELECTIONS 

Local Elections: 

‘THEY’RE ON YOUR 

DOORSTEP’ 

Deadline 

to register 

Thursday 

13 April 

Elections 

take place 

Thursday 

4 May 

Northumberland County Council and local Parish and 

Town Council Elections take place on Thursday 4 May. 

This is your opportunity to choose who decides, on 

your behalf, what happens in your area and for the 

people of Northumberland. 

To be able to vote, you must be 

registered and registering to vote 

is easy. You can do it in just a few 

minutes at gov.uk/register-to-vote. 

You’ll need to provide your National 

Insurance number, your date of birth 

and your address. Thursday 13 April 

is the deadline to register to vote, 

so don’t miss out! 

If you have moved house or recently 

moved into Northumberland, you 

may not be on the Electoral Register. 

If you are unclear about whether 

or not you are on the register call 

01670 624811 or email 

elections@northumberland.gov.uk 

If you can’t vote in person you can 

still have your say with a postal vote 

or, if this doesn’t suit your needs, a 

proxy vote (where a person you trust 

votes on your behalf). Go to 

yourvotematters.co.uk 

Make your vote count in this year’s local Elections. 

#OnYourDoorstep 

how to apply, or contact Electoral 

Services on the details above to 

request an application form. 

Once you have registered you will 

receive a polling card which advises 

you that you either have a postal 

vote or give the details of the polling 

station where you should attend on 

the 4 May. If you have chosen to 

vote by post, you will receive your 

postal vote within the month of April. 

6 


BE PREPARED 

for UNIVERSAL 

CREDIT 

Universal credit, the new 

benefit for working age 

people, who on are a low 

income or out of work, is 

being introduced in stages 

across the country. 

 

one payment, which will be paid 

directly into your bank account. 

This means that if you are entitled 

to help with your rent, (i.e. you are 

 

money will be included in your 

Universal Credit payment and paid 

directly to you. Unlike before, you 

will be responsible for paying your 

rent and making sure you don’t fall 

into arrears. 

Remember your rent is due weekly 

 

usually pays four weekly in arrears. 

This means that once Universal Credit 

starts you will be behind on your rent 

by four weeks. 

It is vital that you pay your rent on 

time every week, failure to do so 

could lead to legal action being 

taken against you. 

The easiest way to pay your rent is 

via Direct Debit, see details above 

on how to set up a direct debit. You 

can also pay by Standing Order, contact 

our Customer Contact Centre for a 

form, by telephone or pay online at 

www.northumberland.gov.uk 

If you are having issues paying your 

rent then please contact us and we 

can help to set up a payment plan. 

If you receive a letter about your 

rent from us, don’t ignore it – the 

problem won’t go away. It is always 

best to discuss your problems 

with us so that we understand the 

 

have a chance to help you. 

Housing 

Benefit 

Incomerelated 

Employment 

and Support 

Allowance 

Please 

don’t wait for 

the changes to 

happen. You need 

to start getting 

prepared 

now. 

Child 

Tax 

Credit 

Income 

Support 

MONEY MATTERS 

Working 

Tax 

Credit 

The six benefits 

Universal credit 

will replace 

JSA 

We are waiting to hear when Universal Credit is to be introduced 

more widely in Northumberland. But please don’t wait for the 

changes to happen. You need to start getting prepared now. 

1 Open a bank account: even if you have a poor credit rating, you can 

open a ‘Basic Bank Account’ Go to a local bank and they will help you. 

 

 

It is very important that you pay your rent and it is paid on time. You do 

not want to get into debt. The easiest way to pay your rent is by Direct 

 

www.directdebit.co.uk or speak to your bank. 

Alternatively you can open a ‘Jam Jar’ account with a credit union. Jam 

Jar accounts work by splitting the money that enters your account into 

different ‘jars’. You can have different jars for different expenses. For 

example you can have a rent, water, saving or food jar. You can set how 

much money you want to go into each jar so that you know you will 

have enough money to cover those expenses. 

2 Get on the internet: You will have to make your application for 

 

Northumberland where you can use a computer for free, such as your 

local job centre and library and learn how to get online. Call us on 

0345 600 6400 

3 Set up a direct debit to pay your rent: this means you won’t have to 

remember to pay your rent on time as it will be taken from your 

account automatically. Your bank can help you do this. Once you have 

set up your Direct Debit, you can ask us about changing the date you 

pay your rent to the day you receive your Universal Credit payment. 

This will mean that your rent will come out of your account the same 

day you receive your Universal Credit payment. 

4 Come and talk to us: If you have any questions or concerns about 

Universal Credit one of our friendly advisors can help explain the 

process and how it will affect you in the future. Just call in at your 

local council customer information centre or ring 01670 542424. 

Alternatively your local Citizens Advice Bureau will be able to help. 


7

AFFORDABLE HOUSING 

EMPTY HOMES 

BROUGHT BACK 

INTO USE 

Empty homes across 

Northumberland will 

be brought back into 

use thanks to a 

project being delivered 

by the council. 

Thirty homes from across the county 

will be repaired and released back 

onto the rental market, using a 

£750,000 grant from the Homes 

and Communities Agency’s (HCA) 

Affordable Housing programme. 

The council is working with owners, 

who currently have homes which 

have been empty for two years or 

more, to identify the homes to be 

included in the scheme. 

Each home will be assessed in 

terms of its viability, such as 

cost of repair work, future rental 

potential, housing need in the 

area and the impact of it remaining 

empty on a community. 

Using an Empty Dwelling Management 

Order (EDMO). The council will take 

over the management of up to 

25 empty homes. Using the grant 

these homes would be returned to a 

habitable condition and rented out. 

The council will also purchase a 

 

then be refurbished and once rented, 

would be managed by Homes for 

Northumberland. 

It is hoped that repair work to the 

homes will be complete next year 

with each being available to rent 

no later than 2018. 

Northumberland County Council’s 

business chair, Scott Dickinson, said: 

“Empty properties can have a negative 

impact on the sustainability of an 

area, affecting everything from local 

businesses to public services, such 

as schools and transport. 

“Thanks to this funding from the 

HCA, we will now be able to work 

with owners to identify properties, 

which could be given a new lease 

of life and become a much-needed 

family home.” 

8 


AFFORDABLE HOUSING 

MILLIONS 

INVESTED 

in Blyth estate 

A multi-million pound scheme 

to rejuvenate a Blyth estate is 

nearing completion. 

The work is 

expected to be 

completed by 

the end of 

March. 

More than 350 homes in The Oval 

area of Newsham and New Delaval 

have seen their garden walls replaced, 

 

and new streetlights installed. 

The properties have also been 

re-rendered and new guttering 

 

The council has invested £2.9m 

into the scheme of environmental 

services. 

Roads in the estate will also be 

resurfaced and a front canopy 

placed on a number of properties. 

The majority of the homes in the 

estate are managed by Homes for 

Northumberland, the council’s 

housing management team, 

alongside a number of owneroccupiers. 


and ward member Deidre Campbell 

helped to initiate the project. 

She said: “It’s fantastic to see the 

project almost at completion. The 

transformation of the estate is 

wonderful, and tenants I have 

spoken to are really happy with 

the work. 

“The estate was looking old and 

tired but this work has given it a 

new lease of life. If an area looks 

good it makes you feel better about 

the place.” 

Gordon Webb, chair of the council’s 

housing working group, added: 

“There were 

some issues with 

anti-social behaviour in this area, 

but hopefully the community will 

now take more pride in the estate.” 


Allan Hepple, cabinet member for 

housing said: “This major investment 

is part of our ongoing commitment 

to improving the lives of our tenants. 

“We hope that there will be a positive 

impact, not only to their community, 

but to the area as a whole. 

“As a council we ensure that all our 

homes meet the Decent Homes 

standard. Improving the appearance 

of our estates is a natural 

progression of this work.” 


9

INFORMATION 

Working with 

LANDLORDS 

Did you know that the council is working 

with landlords in your area to help to 

improve standards across our estates? 

Working with private owners is key 

to ensuring that all homes in your 

community are a decent condition. 

We offer a range of support and 

services to encourage landlords and 

owners to look after their properties 

This includes an accreditation scheme 

which offers a free tenant check, and 

a Rent Deposit Guarantee scheme. 

The council is committed to working 

with landlords, property owners and 

agents to improve standards in 

rented housing across the county. 

HERE’S HOW WE CAN HELP IN MORE DETAIL: 

WHAT’S ON OFFER 

The accreditation scheme was introduced to offer responsible 

landlords with a free reference checking service for tenants,the 

same way we reference check our own tenants, to make tenancies 

more sustainable and to minimise the risk of failing tenancies. 

WHAT WE NEED 

To access the scheme there are a 

number of things we require from 

landlords including; all the 

 

Electrical and Energy); building 

insurance and proof of a buy to let 

mortgage. 

Once we receive these we will do an 

inspection of the property to ensure 

there are no health and safety risks. 

WHAT A LANDLORD GETS 

 

including arrears checks and 

previous landlord reference 

 

 

 

your gas, electrical or energy 

 

accredited 

 

 

 

 

 

promoting your properties as 

a responsible landlord 

10 


INFORMATION 

RENT DEPOSIT GUARANTEE 

SCHEME (RDGS) 

Once a property has been assessed 

and accepted into the accreditation 

scheme, the RDGS is available to 

tenants, who are unable to raise the 

funds through other means, to help 

them secure a property in the 

private rented sector. 

The bond guarantee can be claimed 

upon by landlords at the end of a 

tenancy (up to 12 months) if there 

has been damage to the property or 

rent arrears. Both parties must be in 

agreement before a bond guarantee 

can be signed. 

This scheme allows properties to be 

let more quickly. Tenants will 

be expected to save up over the 

period of the tenancy in order to 

repay the council in case of any 

claim being made. 

TRAINING COURSES 

AND LANDLORD FORUMS 

Working alongside the National Landlord’s Association, Newcastle City 

Council and North Tyneside Council we offer a range of training courses 

for landlords throughout the year. These focus on everything from 

understanding deposits and disputes to landlords’ safety. The courses are 

£85 per delegate. 

We also organise an annual county-wide Landlords Forum. This event is a 

 

about what the council can do to help. 

There are also Development Forums in South East Northumberland, three 

times a year. The forum is a partnership between the council, private 

landlords and letting agents working in the private rented sector. It helps 

to promote the views of private landlords to contribute to the improvement 

of the county’s housing. 

For more information on the Property Accreditation Scheme and its 

privatesectorhousing@northumberland.gov.uk or 

phone 01670 622299. Visit www.northumberland.gov.uk/Housing/ 

Landlords.aspx#privaterentedsectoraccreditationscheme 


11

COMMUNITY LIFE 

MAKING 

THINGS MATTER 

in Newsham 

A new community project led by 

Northumberland County Council is 

striving to improve the lives of people 

living in Newsham. 

After a series of anti-social behaviour 

incidents in the area, the council 

carried out a door-to-door survey 

 

main issues were, and what people 

wanted to see happen in the 

community. 

More than 300 households 

responded, with many saying they 

would like to see a community 

project with everyone working 

together to bring back some pride 

to the area. 

From there tenants developed 

the Newsham Community Matters 

project. With funding from 

NE Procurement the scheme aims 

to offer tenants and residents 

activities and courses to help 

improve their lives for the future. 

Activities and courses will run in three different venues in Newsham. IT Matters, Church of Yahweh (lead by the 

 

Credit, help with writing CV’s, short courses, and home budgeting). Practical Matters, St Bedes Church Hall 

 

advice) and Family Matters, The Pavilion (activities such as healthy cooking, cooking on a budget, dealing 

 

12 


COMMUNITY LIFE 

With funding from 

NE Procurement the 

scheme aims to offer 

tenants and residents 

activities and courses 

to help improve their 

lives for the future. 

The council will be working in 

partnership with NE Procurement, 

the, Police, Community Voluntary 

Action Blyth Valley, Youth Forum, 

Northern Learning Trust, the Army, 

Northumbria Healthcare, Red Cross, 

St Bedes, Church of Yahweh and 

volunteers from the community to 

deliver courses and activity sessions 

starting on Wednesday 22 March. 

We are also working with the 

Community Voluntary Action Blyth 

Valley (CVABV) to establish a 

Community Interest Company, made 

up of tenants, who can develop and 

take the project forward. 

Irene Willis, 72, has lived in Newsham for 

more than 50 years and is fully supportive 

of the project. 

“I have seen a lot of changes over 

the years, but recently we seem to 

have lost that community pride in 

the area,” she said. 

“This project has so many different 

elements to it that I think there is 

something for everyone. Working 

together, and getting the older 

generation to help the younger one, 

will hopefully not only improve the 

community but also the lives of 

people who live here. 

“I would encourage everyone to go 

 

what courses and activities could 

 

For more information about the project contact the council’s 

Resident Involvement Team on 01670 542424 or the 

Newsham Community Project mobile on 075522 60613. 

Or go to www.facebook.com/newshamcommunitymatters 

Save the date 

Come along to a 

family fun day to launch 

Newsham Community 

Matters on March 18th 

at The Pavillion from 

10am to 2pm 


13

HOME ADVICE 

Do you have a solid fuel appliance in your 

home? Then we have some advice on how 

to look after it and what fuel to burn. 

There are a number of threats to 

your appliance which can not only 

cause large repair bills for the 

council, but also can pose as a 

danger to your home. 

Northumberland County Council is 

responsible for servicing your appliance 

twice a year, this includes sweeping 

the chimney and cleaning and 

repairing any parts, such as grates 

 

However, we have seen an increase 

in repair work as some tenants choose 

the wrong type of fuel to burn. 

SO HERE ARE SOME DO’S AND DON’TS 

DON’T 

• Burn “Green wood”. 

Wood is wood, 

right? Wrong, Your 

solid fuel appliance 

is only as good 

as the fuel you 

burn on it. 

• This is wood which has not been dried, or seasoned. Unseasoned or 

green wood, still has the sap inside. Once the wood starts to burn the 

sap evaporates inside the chimney, the smoke cools and the sap turns 

into tar. This sticks to inside of the chimney and could result in a 

 

• 

would need to be replaced, costing the council £1,500 each time, 

to reline the chimney using a specialist chimney contractor 

• Green wood also gives off less heat, so will end up costing you 

more as you will need to burn more to keep warm. 

DO 

• Buy your logs from a responsible supplier. 

• These should be logs that are already seasoned and ready to burn. 

• Wood should be stored under a cover to protect it from rain, but with 

 

stored for a year and for a hardwood trees, such as oak, up to two years. 

• If you are unsure ask the supplier who can advise you on the best type 

of wood to burn and how to store it correctly. 

For more information call our Repairs and Maintenance team on 01670 542424 

14 


HOME ADVICE 

Tenants invited 

TO EXHIBITION 

DON’T 

• 

Otherwise known as 

Pet Coke, this cheaper 

alternative to coal or 

coke, burns uncontrollably 

and at an intense heat. 

It can burn through your 

 

front of your stove to crack 

and crack the chimney. 

DO 

• Source your coal or coke from 

a reputable, registered coal 

merchant, who can advise you 

on the best fuel to burn. 

Tenants were invited to a special 

exhibition to showcase the next 

phase of the council’s £31million 

Capital Works programme. 

This programme will include kitchen 

and bathroom replacements, 

electrical rewires, new heating 

systems, replacement roof coverings 

and windows and doors. 

Tenants whose homes are in line for 

improvements this year were invited 

to an exhibition at Blyth’s Civic Centre. 

They were able to view the choices on 

offer to them, ranging from bathroom 

suites and tiles to new front doors 

and kitchen units. 

They were also given an idea of the date 

when work will start in their homes. 

DID YOU KNOW... 

If you need help 

moving furniture, or 

preparing your house 

for work, our housing 

Handyman can do this 

free of charge. Call 

01670 542424 

for more details 


15

RESIDENTS’ FESTIVAL 

NORTHUMBERLAND 

Residents’ Festival 

OUR PEOPLE, OUR PLACES 

Attractions across the 

county will be opening 

their doors to residents to 

encourage you to explore 

what’s on your doorstep. 

© National Trust 

 

take it along to your chosen attraction, with proof of residence, such as a 

driving licence, utility bill or bank statement. 

 

nearest library or information centre or go to www.activenorthumberland. 

org.uk/northumberland-festivals-and-events 

Here’s some highlights: 

Seaton Delaval Hall 

2 for 1 admission into 

this National Trust 

property where you can 

explore the drama of 

the central hall as well 

as the wide open spaces 

in the surrounding landscapes, 

gardens and woodlands. 

2 

for 1 

admission 

Woodhorn Museum 

2 for 1 admission 

to Brick Dino 

exhibition, and 

come face-to-face 

with dinosaurs 

built entirely from 

LEGO ® bricks. 

2 

for 1 

admission 

Blyth Battery 

FREE 

entry 

Explore this important 

WW1 and WW2 defence battery for 

free all weekend. The only WW1 

battery observation post left in the 

world. There will be children’s 

activities as well as guided tours. 

CUT OUT YOUR VOUCHER HERE 

Please be aware that you must bring proof of residence when presenting 

this voucher. A driving licence, utility bill or bank statement will all be 

accepted. To save time, please complete the voucher before arrival 

at the venue. 

16 

Name: 

Address: 

Email: 

The above information may be used by the attractions for marketing purposes, 

should you not wish to be contacted, please tick this box. 

YOUR NEWS Winter 2016 

Newbiggin 

Maritime Centre 

50% 

50% entry into the 

heritage and art 

exhibitions at the 

centre. There will be a host 

of special Residents’ Festival 

activities throughout the weekend. 

entry

A small bowl of sugary cereal 

YOUR HEALTH 

Get your kids day yoff 

to a healthy start 

As the saying ggoes “Breakfast is the 

most important meal of the day ” but 

did you know that some children are 

having twice the daily recommended 

amount of sugar before the morning 

school bell? 

According to research by Public 

Health England some children in 

England consume more than 11g 

of sugar at breakfast time alone, 

that’s almost 3 sugar cubes. The 

recommended daily maximum is no 

more than 5 cubes of sugar for 4 to 

6 year olds and no more than 6 

cubes for 7 to 10 year olds per day. 

By the end of the day children have 

consumed more than 3 times these 

recommendations. 

The research also found that of 

those parents of children who were 

eating 3 sugar cubes at breakfast, 

84% of them considered the 

breakfast they were giving their 

children as healthy. 

Public Health ’ s Top 

Breakfast tips are: 

Add fruit: 

 

 

Drink lower-fat milk 

 

 

 

Have wholegrain toast 

 

 

 

Master porridge oats 

 

 

 

Bagels 

Swap sugary drinks for alternatives 

 

 

So here’s some stats 

which may surprise you, 

along with some tasty 

healthy options that 

your kids will love in 

the morning. 

Chocolate spread on toast 

A glass of fruit juice 

 

www.nhs.uk/change4life-beta/be-food-smart 


17

GET INVOLVED 

TENANT FORUM 

update 

LEASEHOLDERS 

Did you 

know? 

Our tenant forum continues to lead the way 

with the development of a bespoke tenant 

engagement system called ThinkChange. 

To help improve tenant engagement, and receive feedback on what is 

important to tenants and residents, the forum is working on an innovative 

 

 

tenant engagement system in place. 

The system would allow tenants to 

suggest ideas on how to improve the 

housing service they receive as well 

as commenting on current initiatives 

and projects. 

Each tenant would be offered the 

opportunity to sign up to the system 

and would be given a personal login 

which could be accessed from any 

computer or mobile device. 

Karen Bailey, 

chair of the Tenants Forum 

“We are always looking at new 

ways of communicating with 

tenants and gaining their views 

on the housing service they receive. 

 

and once again demonstrates 

how tenants in this area are 

leading the way on engagement 

and involvement.” 

 

 

on particular areas of the housing 

 

 

take the views of tenants direct to 

the council for further discussion. 

 

 

 

 

across the North as well as hearing presentations from a number of guest 

speakers from other housing organisations. 

Did you know that 

as a leaseholder you 

have a number of 

responsibilities you 

must carry out to 

protect your lease. 

 

owns the land and the building that 

your home is in and is the freeholder 

of your building. We are required to 

maintain the exterior of the building 

and any common areas. 

However, you must pay towards this 

cost and will be charged for any 

work carried out to the structure or 

communal areas of your building. 

Here is a list of some of your other 

responsibilities: 

• 

It is a priority debt and failure to 

do so could result in the loss of 

your home. 

• If you are struggling to pay the 

service charge the council can 

help by arranging a payment plan. 

• 

in your service charge 

• 

Safety Inspection - the council can 

arrange for this work to be carried 

out for a one off annual payment 

of £45 + vat 

• 

your property as this could 

invalidate your building insurance. 

Marie Bradley is your dedicated 

 

available on 01670 622906. 

18 


GET INVOLVED 

ADD YOUR VIEWS 

Over the next few months members of our Customer 

Service Development Group will be contacting tenants 

to get their views on the Customer Contact Centre. 

They will be making phonecalls to 

more than 800 tenants to gauge 

customer satisfaction in relation to 

calls made to the contact centre. 

So if you receive one of these calls 

make sure you give your feedback 

as it can help shape the way the 

service is delivered in the future. 

Results of the survey will be collated 

 

report outlining the full results later 

in the year. 

Tenants are advised that any members 

involved in the survey will be signing 

a Data Protection Declaration and 

no personal details will 

be included in any results. 

Remember if you do wish to speak 

to a member of the team, as well 

as calling 01670 542424, you can 

also drop into one of our Information 

Centres around the county. 

SEE BELOW FOR THE LIST OF CENTRES 

You can visit us Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm 

(excluding bank holidays) 

Alnwick 

Greenwell Lane, Alnwick 

Ashington 

Wansbeck Square, Ashington 

Bedlington 

Within Bedlington library, 

Glebe Road, Bedlington 

Berwick 

Walkergate Building, Walkergate 

Please note: Alnwick Information Centres 

closes at 4:30pm, Bedlington has changed. 

Blyth 

Blyth Library, Bridge Street, Blyth 

Cramlington 

Concordia, Cramlington 

Hexham 

Hadrian House, 

Market Street, Hexham 

Morpeth 

Royal Sovereign House, 

Manchester Street, Morpeth 

Seaton Delaval 

Library, Astley High School, 

Elsdon Avenue 

AT ANY OF OUR CUSTOMER INFORMATION 

CENTRES YOU CAN: 

get advice and information regarding any 

of our services anywhere in the county 

arrange delivery of any council service 

anywhere in the county 

make a payment for council services 

submit applications along with supporting 

documentation or evidence 

get assistance and advice in completing 

application forms 

If your request can not be dealt with 

immediately, we will ensure the appropriate 

person or department will contact you. 

MAKING A PAYMENT: 

For extra convenience, you can also make 

 


19

LEISURE 

Boost for BLYTH 

DURING TALL SHIPS 

Nearly half a million people 

flocked to Blyth last summer for 

the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta. 

500,000 VISITORS 

8/10 VISITORS WOULD 

RETURN TO THE AREA 

ECONOMY BOOST 

OF £13.5M 

The four day 

event saw people 

spending money in both 

Blyth and across the 

wider county, boosting 

Northumberland’s 

economy by a 

staggering 

£13.5million 

The four day event saw people 

spending money in both Blyth and 

across the wider county, boosting 

Northumberland’s economy by a 

staggering £13.5million. 

Spending on eating out, 

accommodation and other tourism 

and leisure services far exceeded 

initial targets and has demonstrated 

the huge value to the county. 

The economic impact has been 

 

which also shows that there was 

an extremely high satisfaction rate 

from visitors to the event. 

A remarkable 99% of those 

attending the regatta described it 

as ‘very good’ or ‘good’ - while more 

than eight out of ten visitors from 

other parts of the UK said they 

would be more likely to return to 

the area, and spend, as a result. 

 

from holding the Tall Ships event in 

Northumberland have far exceeded 

our initial expectations. This world 

class event produced a huge 

economic impact for the county as 

a whole, and particularly so in Blyth 

and surrounding areas. 

 

the importance of bringing high 

 

 

and memories however - it also 

gave opportunities for volunteers 

and trainees to become involved in 

learning and in gaining life skills of 

 

Blyth will once again host the 

Northumberland Live festival this 

year, which attracts 10,000 number 

of people to the area. 

20 


NOTICEBOARD 

24 June 2017 

BLYTH 

[Blyth Beach NE24 3PL] 

ON SITE PARKING 

www.blythtowncouncil.org.uk 

NorthumberlandLiveFestival 

The Undertones 

Plus many more* 

29 July 2017 

BEDLINGTON 

[Gallagher Park NE22 7LA] 

NO ON SITE PARKING 

NorthumberlandliveBedlington16 

The Commitments 

Plus many more* 

Northumberland Day 

Sunday 28th May 

Show your love for 

the place you live by 

celebrating the first ever 

Northumberland Day. 

Why not organise a street 

party, or a special event or 

 

or decorate your house in 

the county’s traditional 

colours of red and yellow. 

***** FREE Family Festivals ***** 

LIVE L MUSIC S / STREET S T THEATRE A / FUN FAIRS 

F A FOOD AT AFFORDABLE A FO 

L PRICES R OR BRING R A PICNIC 

HAVE-A-GO A ACTIVITIES FOR F R ALL L THE FAMILY (MOSTLY S FREE) 

For more information about the event please email northumberlandlive@gmail.com or for more 

information regarding public transport please visit http://jplanner.travelinenortheast.info/ 

* Both headline acts are supported by a wide range of bands which are suitable for a family audience 

Watch this space 

Northumberland’s Homefinder 

will be re-launched at the end 

of March. 

The new look website will be 

more user friendly using the most 

up-to-date technology to help you 

choose your future home. 

EASTER DATES 

Good Friday 14 April 

Easter Monday 17 April 

Early May 

Bank Holiday 1 May 

Spring Bank 

Holiday 29 May 

FOLLOW US ON Simply search Homes for Northumberland and click to like our page @HomesforN_land

PERFORMANCE 

HOW ARE WE 

performing? 

We aim to be the best we can 

possibly be and offer the best service 

we possibly can to our tenants. This 

is why we are constantly monitoring 

our performance and measuring our 

work against a set of performance 

indicators. 

Performance Indicators are targets used to 

 

and provide important information on the key 

services we provide. 

Our performance indicators have been agreed 

by tenants. 

Our latest figures show how we were 

performing between April and December 2016. 

NUMBER OF EMERGENCY 

CURRENT RENT ARREARS AVERAGE NUMBER 

100% 99.93% completed 5 * NUMBER OF REPAIRS FIXED 

6,816 

FIRST TIME 

OF DAYS TO RE-LET 

A PROPERTY 

REPAIRS COMPLETED 

WITHIN 24HRS 

Target 

£517,011 

Actual 

£612,763 

Target 

30 Days 

Actual 

31.5 Days 

Target 

as a % 

99.20% 

Total 

number 

Actual 

96.69% 

Total 

completed 

NUMBER OF GAS SERVICING CERTIFICATES COMPLETED 

of repairs within 24hrs 

8,608 8,323 

Target Mid-year Number of Number 

as a % point outstanding 

 

completed, giving a 100% completion rate 

Target 

as a % 

98% 

Actual 

96.84% 

NUMBER OF SOLID FUEL CERTIFICATES COMPLETED 

Target 

as a % 

100% 

Actual 

100% 

Number 

requested 

176 

Number 

completed 

176 

Total 

number 

of repairs 

28,677 

Total 

completed 

 

27,772 

*Many of the repairs requiring a second visit 

were due to a tradesman needing to order in 

materials to complete the job 

22 


HOUSING OFFICERS 

YOUR HOUSING MANAGEMENT TEAM 

Your Housing Management Team is here to help with questions on a range of housing 

services including, rent, estate management or your tenancy. We have a dedicated 

Housing Officer for each estate. Find out who your officer is and contact them on 

01670 542424. 

Philip Soderquest 

Susan Ogle 

Philippa Storey 

Christine McGregor 

Pearl O’Hare 

Sarah Thorpe 

Head of Housing 

Head of Housing 

Management 

Area Housing 

Manager 

Blyth North and 

Alnwick Area 

YOUR HOUSING OFFICER 

ALNWICK OFFICERS 

Area Housing 

Manager 

Blyth South 

Team Leader 

Blyth North 

and Alnwick Area 

Team Leader 

Blyth South 

Simon Crosthwaite 

Simon covers: 

Alnmouth, Boulmer, 

Craster, Embleton, 

Elsdon, Felton, 

Glanton, Harbottle, 

Longframlington, 

Longhoughton, 

Netherton, Newton 

by the Sea, Powburn, 

Rothbury, Thropton, 

Whittingham 

Hannah Brewis 

Hannah covers: 

All Amble estates, 

Hauxley 

Andrew Howstan 

Andrew covers: 

Alnwick 

BLYTH OFFICERS 

Shaun McGonnell 

Shaun covers: 

The Poet’s Estate, 

Seaton Sluice, 

New Hartley, 

Allendale, Haltwhistle 

Lee Danskin 

Lee covers: 

 

Collingwood Grange, 

 

Estate Flats 

Graeme Harwood 

Graeme covers: 

Cowpen estate 

Imran Ahmed 

Imran covers: 

The Avenues, 

Solingen 

Blyth Town Centre 

Joanne Walker 

Joanne covers: 

East Hartford, 

 

Grange, Cramlington 

 

Cramlington 

Allensgreen/Allerhope 

Dawn Wright 

Dawn covers: 

Newsham and 

New Delaval 

Debbie Halford 

Debbie covers: 

North Farm, Bebside, 

Cowpen Farm, 

Hodgsons Road, 

Cowpen Quay 

Kevin Bradley 

Kevin covers: 


and Seghill 

Jeff Baker 

Jeff covers: 


and Seghill 


23

FOLLOW 

US ON 

for latest news & advice 

Why not follow us on Facebook and keep 

up to date with the latest news and advice 

about your home and the services we provide. 

If you have a Facebook 

account, simply search 

Homes for Northumberland 

and click to like our page. 

KEEP IN TOUCH 

CONTACT US 

For queries about your council property, 

repairs, rents and neighbourhood 

services ring 01670 542424. 

For questions about any other 

Northumberland County Council 

 

 

or refuse collection ring 

0345 600 6400. 

SAVE TIME AND 

DO IT ONLINE 

If you want to report a problem, apply 

for services or pay bills it is cheaper, 

faster and easier to do it online. Simply 

visit www.northumberland.gov.uk 

and complete your task from the 

comfort of your own home. 

CUSTOMER 

INFORMATION CENTRES 

You can call in at any Northumberland 

County Council customer information 

centre and speak to one of our 

friendly advisors about any housing 

or council related issue.

Your News - Spring edition 2017

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